US carries out one of its deadliest strikes against Houthis

A US attack on the Ras Isa oil port in western Yemen has killed at least 38 people, local media reported, making it one of the deadliest days since the US began its strikes on Iran-backed militants.

Al Masirah TV said the strikes, which the US military said were aimed at cutting off fuel supplies to Houthi militants, also wounded 102 people.

Initial reports, citing the local health ministry, put the death toll at at least 17, writes CNN, the Telegraph reports.

"The purpose of these attacks was to destroy the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and inflict great pain on their compatriots," US Central Command said on platform X.

US CENTCOM has announced that precision strikes destroyed the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa fuel port in Yemen. The action was taken to disrupt the group's financial lifelines, as the site was reportedly used to facilitate illicit fuel sales that funded their ongoing terrorist... pic.twitter.com/G9GUtfl23w

— GMI (@Global_Mil_Info) April 18, 2025

The US began major strikes against the Houthis last month, saying they would continue until they stopped ship attacks in the Red Sea.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched dozens of drone and missile attacks, saying they are targeting Israeli-linked ships, in protest and retaliation for the war in Gaza.

Thursday's attack was reportedly one of the deadliest since the US launched airstrikes against the Houthis, in its largest military operation in the Middle East since President Donald Trump took office in January. /Telegraph/